THE MESSENGER - Peekskill Presbyterian Church 2019... · 2019. 3. 2. · The Messenger -March 2019...

The Messenger - March 2019 -

THE MESSENGER The Peekskill Presbyterian Church March 2019

Women: God’s Gift to Christendom

Women were the last disciples at the cross and the first at the empty tomb. They remained integral to the work of the church in its early centuries. Women have and continue to be dedicated and committed leaders, members and supporters of congregations throughout many denominations.

Women have never allowed the rules forbidding them to be ordained or placed in official positions, to stop their work, their worship or their witness.

One of the best-kept secrets in Christianity is the enormous role that women played in the early church. Though they leave much unsaid, still, both Christian and secular writers of the time attest many times to the significant involvement of women in the early growth of Christianity.

Bishop Cyprian of Carthage, acknowledged in his Testimonia that “Christian maidens were very numerous” and that it was difficult to find Christian hus-bands for all of them. These comments give us a picture of a church dispropor-tionately populated by women.

Why? One reason might have been the practice of exposing unwanted female infants—abandoning them to certain death. Christians, of course, repudiated this practice, and thus had more living females.

Also, in the upper echelons of society, women often converted to Christianity while their male relatives remained pagans, lest they lose their senatorial status. This too contributed to the inordinate number of women in the church, particu-larly upper-class women.

Perhaps women embraced Christianity because they became increasingly aware of how Christ embraced the women of his time. Jesus accepted, healed, be-friended and delivered the women he encountered on his journey.

Despite the male dominated writers and interpreters of the Bible, one would not have to search far beyond the gospels to discover the significant roles and responsibilities that the women who followed Jesus held. Jesus elevated the status of women then and continues to welcome all into a loving and affirming relationship with him.

Excerpts from, The Neglected History of Women in the

Early Church by Catherine Kroeger

Celebrate the gifts of women during women’s history

month!

By Faith, Pastor Stephany

IN THIS ISSUE

Prayer Requests…………..…..…..………...2

Bible Memory Verses..…….…..…..……...2

Music Ministry……….………...…………….2

Pot Luck………………………………….…...…3

Easter Memorial Flowers………………….3

Our Mission…………………………….……...3

Vision Statement.……………………….…...3

Session Highlights…………….………….....4

Clerk's Corner………………………...……….5

God ……………………………………….…...….6

Haiti Mission School…..………...…...…….7

Calendar………….………….……....…..........8

The Messenger April 2019 Issue

Deadline: March 22, 2019

10:00 AM

MARCH 1, 2019

WOMENS DAY

OF PRAYER

WORSHIP

SERVICE

12:00 NOON

In the Sanctuary

COME

EVERYTHING IS READY

ASH

WEDNESDAY

WORSHIP

SERVICE

MARCH 6, 2019

12:00 NOON In the Sanctuary

WITH THE DISPENSING

OF ASHES


Continued Prayers….

for Marjorie C, Peggy B, and all of the

Congregants unable to join in our activities.

Continued Prayers of Healing…. for the people across the country

affected by the extreme weather.

Prayers of Sympathy…. for Leo Kwiatowski and his family.

BIBLE MEMORY VERSES FOR MARCH 2019

Submitted by Rose Reed

1. And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly

the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove

and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved, with

whom I am well pleased.’ (Matthew 3:16-17)

2. The Father loves the Son and has placed all things in his hands. Whoever believes in the Son has eter-

nal life; whoever disobeys the Son will not see life, but must endure God’s wrath. (John 3:35-36)

3. Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except

through me. If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have

seen him.’ (John 14:6-7)

4. Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not

regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave,

being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obe-

dient to the point of death—even death on a cross. (Philippians 2:5-8)

5. ‘For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not

perish but may have eternal life. (John 3:16)

As we are heading in the Lenten Season, we are going to be going back into full swing of rehearsals for all groups in preparation for Holy week. So be sure to check out the schedule for rehearsals including Hand Bell choir and Children's Choir.

As always if you have any ideas for music for the service please feel free to let me know. Matt

Our own Jake Kerkapoly released his first EP of 6 original songs. He wrote the songs and lyrics, sings with his band, and produced. You can purchase his music on all music all platforms, iTunes, Amazon, and CDBaby. let your kids know and have them add him to their Spotify playlist! You

can find him under his new name: Jake Lasz. The EP is called Just A Scratch. 6 songs for $6, support your local budding musician!


OUR MISSION

In response to the profound love of

God through Jesus Christ

toward all, we

welcome everyone to join as we

study and proclaim the gospel, seek

the will of God, grow in

spiritual maturity, share our

resources, and

respond in service to the needs of

our members and our neighbors.

Vision Statement

The Peekskill Presbyterian Church is a

faithful and diverse community of

Christians with varied backgrounds,

ethnicities, talents, and ages. Guided by

the Holy Spirit, we are committed

to nurturing individual and corporate

faith through:

Vibrant Worship;

Committed Stewardship;

Relationship Building Fellowship;

Mission Focused Discipleship;

and Servant Leadership.

MEN'S CLUB FISH FRY & BBQ SATURDAY, JUNE 1, 2019

Proceeds to benefit the Men's Club Scholarship Fund

Easter Flowers

Easter Sunday, with its joyous worship service, is not many weeks

away. The traditional Easter Flower Memorials bring to the service

a beauty befitting the joy with which we celebrate the Resurrection.

Equally fitting is the thankfulness expressed by the memorials for the lives of those

who have passed on to the Church Triumphant.

On Easter, April 1, we will publish a special Memorial insert in the bulletin. The

money collected for the memorials will be used to purchase flowers to grace our

sanctuary. After the Easter services, the Deacons will distribute the plants to our

shut-ins and to those who have had a death in the immediate family since last East-

er. Please note your donation does not buy a plant, but a memorial listing. It is sug-

gested that a minimum donation of $12 be made for your listing.

Please return the attached form to the church office; The Peekskill Presbyterian

Church, 705 South Street, Peekskill, NY 10566; or place it in the offering plate no

later than March 25. Contact the church office at 737-3322 if you need additional

information.

Easter Memorial Flower Donation Form - Enclosed is my donation of $ ____________

for the Easter Memorial listing below:

In memory of:

____________________________________________________________________________

Given by:

____________________________________________________________________________

CONGREGATIONAL POT LUCK LUNCHEON Saturday, March 16, 2019

12:00 NOON-3:30 PM, Social Hall

The luncheon will be followed by a showing of the movie;

I Can Only Imagine (2018).

Sponsored by the Good News and Congregational Life Ministries.

Mark your calendars now!

The next Congregational Pot Luck Luncheon will be held on Saturday, June 15, 12:00 PM-3:30 PM.


SESSION HIGHLIGHTS - February 14, 2019

1. Minutes of the January 10, 2019 Session Minutes leave. – Approved

2. Commission Rick Ufford-Chase to attend March Presbytery Meeting – Approved

3. Accept with regret and gratitude the resignation of Fay Meneses as manager of the Lord’s Attic Thrift Shop, - Approved

4. If the way be clear, Father John will hold meetings in the social hall at no cost at 4:00 on Sundays. – Approved

5. The Session encourages congregants to consider subsidizing the per capita cost that we send to Presby-tery. –Approved

6. March 24, 2019 there will be a luncheon to honor Fay Meneses for all of her dedication to the thrift. We wish her well and rapid healing.

7. March 17 there will be a short congregational meeting held after church service in the social hall to ap-prove the revised by-laws of the Peekskill Presbyterian Church. Copies of the revisions as well as the existing by-laws will be distributed at the beginning of March.

8. Pastor Graham Walker will be on Study Leave from Monday February 18-March 5.

9. The Communications Strategy Meeting will meet in the Social Hall on Saturday February 16 from 9:00 – 3:00. Ministry leaders and officers were asked to attend

10. On Sunday February 17, 2019 the session will meet at 9:00 am to meet Barbara Davis the intern for Pastor Graham Walker.

11. Ash Wednesday Service will be held on March 6, 2019

12. Holy Week services are fast approaching.

13. The Seder Meal will be held on Thursday Evening April 18, 2019

14. At 12:00 p.m. Good Friday service will be held.

15. Preachers are needed for our Friday Evening Service April 19, 2019

16. A uniform template for Ministry Annual Reports will be developed so all can follow the same format.

17. Session members and Pastor are considered to be liaisons to specific ministries. Lynne Nayman Nomi-nating, Linda Buckiewicz – Mission, Brenda Martinez – Christian Education, Terry Rooms – Corporate and Business, John Bishop – Good News, Charlene Woods – Stewardship, Jamel Haight – Thirsty, Di-ana Heaton – Personnel, John Bishop – Men’s ministry, Pastor Graham Walker will represent – Con-gregational Life, Investment, Thrift Shop, Women of Hope.

18. Suggestions for giving good will collections. Every day for forty days during lent, place one article of gently used clothing in a bag. At the end of 40 days donate your bag to a charitable organization. Or you could put $1.00 in a jar each day and that would pay for one per capita expense.


HAPPY ST. PATRICKS DAY

Have you thanked our Savior today,

As you rise up from your bed?

Purposefully showing the omnipotent One,

Plentiful gratitude and love.

Yes, most of what happens in our lives,

Seems hard for us to understand and bear.

Thoughtfully we ponder. “Why me oh God”? in prayer.

Please take away my suffering and pain,

And reveal to us the path you have set for us to walk.

Teach us to listen for your spiritual guidance,

Rich with wisdom and healthy thoughts for others,

In this day and all the days you have set for us to live.

Continue to encourage us in love and giving acts.

Kindly acts, we need to share with those we meet each day.

Surely we will benefit from living in your plan.

Desiring more of you at all times should keep us most content.

As we purposely make special time to intently honor you.

Yes, Dear Lord, we need to remember you as the maker of us all.

Charlene Woods


God's Promise

I am your God and will take care of you until you are old and your hair is gray. I made you and will care for you; I will give you help and rescue you. (Isaiah 46:4)

It had been an exceptionally dark and dreary day, one in a series of dreary winter days. I felt that the weather matched my mood. It seemed as if there was nothing but bad news, weather that was either too cold or too hot, trouble with immigration law, trouble with tariffs, trouble with almost everything it seemed. On top of all that, we were in the midst of a government shutdown. How could things go so wrong?

I decided to pay a visit to my good friend, someone who was even older and presumably wiser than I. We both have gray hair! May-be she would give me some words of wisdom, and at least I would enjoy her company. There was nothing to lose. As we sat and talked, I happened to look out the window and there in the midst of the gloom appeared the most beautiful rainbow I had ever seen! It was incredibly broad and it was possible to see (but not photo-graph!) both ends of the rainbow. As if that were not enough, the sky began to clear. It was close to sunset and the clouds that re-mained in the sky were a beautiful shade of pink. Noah and his family, on the ark, could not have been as amazed as I was. They had been looking for a sign; I was not.

When I got home I asked my husband whether he had, by chance, seen the rainbow. Not only had he seen it, but he had taken a pic-ture of it! The next day I bumped into another friend and asked her if she had seen the rainbow the day before. She told me she had seen it, but only on the news! It seems a CBS reporter was in Weehawken and saw the rainbow over New York City. It was such an amazing sight that they featured it in the weather report on the nightly news.

As I thought about the magnificent rainbow and how much it moved me, I remembered that in the Bible the rainbow is a sign of God's promise and a symbol of God's love. I think that is just as true today as it was then. I am so glad that God put the rainbow in the sky and put me in the right place to see it. I forgot about gloom and was inspired with hope and, most of all, remembered how much God loves me. Even, maybe especially, now that my hair is gray! That rainbow reminded me that what I really need to do is stop worrying and trust the Lord.

Barbara Devir

CRE


News from the Haiti Mission School March 2019

INFLATION

Exchange rates are important in our dealings with Haiti. As I write this newsletter, the exchange rate is above 80 gourdes per dol-

lar. Last year at this time, it was in the mid 60’s. For us, this means our dollars buy more gourdes. For instance, if we send 100 dollars to

Junior, currently he gets 8,000 gourdes instead of the 6500 he would have gotten last year. On the surface it sounds good. Unfortunately for

most Haitians, who don’t have U.S. dollars to spend, the news is not so good.

One reason the exchange rate is higher is that the country is undergoing an inflation of nearly 20 percent since last year. Com-

pounding the inflation problem are taxes on necessities such as food and gas. As a result of these issues, gas prices have almost doubled in

the last year for Haitians. Food prices in Haiti are also up nearly seventeen percent over the last year according to tradingeconomics.com. In

places like Jèrèmie, where most food and other goods need to be transported from Port Au Prince by truck, the costs have nearly doubled.

As you can imagine, when a Haitian, who is already barely making it from day to day, is confronted with inflation and increased taxes, life

gets increasingly difficult. This will clearly affect the cost of our food program as well.

In addition, as I am writing this newsletter (mid-February), the government is

proposing a 10,000 gourde fee for any Haitian (in country or abroad) who hasn’t paid

income taxes. This fee will be charged if they need any official government document

(passport, birth certificate, document notarized, etc.). At the same time, they are pro-

posing a 75% salary and benefits increase for all senators and members of congress!

Thousands of Haitians have taken to the streets in protest of this and other

government corruption. They are demanding the President, Jovenal Moise, step down.

Unfortunately, in Haiti the president has been forcibly removed numerous times over

the years. And of course, this removal of the president causes another problem, since

few people want to invest in a country where the government is unstable.

The circle goes on and on… leading to more inflation… and more protests, and so on. It makes us very sad for our Haitian friends.

Please pray for Haiti and better solutions.

HAITI TRIP STILL ON

These “manifestations”, as they call them, happen mostly in Port Au Prince. However, when we spoke to one of our representatives

in Jèrèmie, manifestations are now happening in Jèrèmie and other places around the country. Most of the time, these protests don’t last for

a long period of time, so we are still planning to go in March (15-21). Si Dieu vle—if God wants.

Mostly this trip will follow up on the November trip. It is important to see how the school has progressed under government con-

trol. There are several actions our Board has discussed concerning things like uniforms and books that will need to be worked out with the

local committee. And of course, further discussions on the building project are necessary. While in Haiti, Howard and JoEllen will also visit

Howard’s projects in Monet and Gomyea.

If you want to keep up with the activities of the team, you can follow us on Facebook at Howard Nicols and/or JoEllen Parsons

where we will try to post pictures and stories each day.

In Christ’s service,

Tom and JoEllen Parsons

The Board of the Friends of Siloam School at Labastille

And the students and families of the school

Haiti Mission School

P.O. Box 445

Lake Luzerne, NY 12846

[email protected]

www.haitimissionschool.org

Please continue to keep Sabrina and the rest of

Haiti’s Restavec children in your prayers

mailto:[email protected]


MARCH 2019 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

24

9:15am-Chancel

10:00am-Worship

11:30am-Coffee Hour

12:00pm-2:00pm

Gates of Heaven

ACADEMY AWARDS

25

7-9:00pm-NA

FRUITS & VEGES

OF THE MONTH

Oranges, Star Fruit,

Calabaza Squash,

Chayote Squash,

Bitter Melon

26

7:30pm-9:00pm

Gates of Heaven

27

7:30am-Prayer Call

6:30pm-AA

7:00pm-

Chancel

8:00pm-

Praise

28

7:30pm-

"Thirsty"

Astrological Sign

Aquarius (till 18th) &

Pisces (19th →)

March 1

12:00pm-3:00pm

Women's Day of

Prayer Festivities

4:30pm-8:30pm

Youth Ministry

7:30pm-9:00pm

Gates of Heaven

2

8:30am-Breakfast 3

9:15am-Chancel

10:00am-Worship

(with Communion)

11:30am-Adult Bible

11:30am-Coffee Hour

12:00pm-2:00pm

Gates of Heaven

4

7-9:00pm-NA

5

7:30pm-

Christian Ed

7:30pm-9:00pm-

Gates of Heaven

MARDI GRAS

ASH WEDNESDAY 6

7:30am-Prayer Call

12:00pm-Worship

6:00pm-7:00pm

"Thirsty: Bible Study

6:30pm-AA

7:00pm-Chancel

8:00pm-Praise

7

7:00pm-

Corporate

& Business

8

12:00pm-Knotting

4:30pm-8:30pm

Youth Ministry

7:30pm-9:00pm

Gates of Heaven

9

6:00pm-

"Spirit Talk"

NAT'L PIZZA DAY

SPRING FORWARD 10

9:15am-Chancel

10:00am-Worship

11:30am-Coffee Hour

12:00pm-2:00pm

Gates of Heaven

4:00pm--Worship (SH)

11

7-9:00pm-NA

FLOWER OF THE

MONTH-Daffodil

12

6:30pm-Deacons

7-8:30pm-Sharing w

neighbors @ Drum Hill

7:00pm-Chancel

7:30pm-9:00pm

Gates of Heaven

8:00pm-Praise

13

7:30am-Prayer Call

6:30pm-AA

14

7:00pm-Session

PI DAY

15

12:00pm-Knitting

4:30pm-8:30pm

Youth Ministry

7:30pm-9:00pm

Gates of Heaven

16

12:00pm-3:00pm

Congregation

Pot Luck

9:15am-Praise 17

10:00am-Worship

(with Communion)

11:30am-Congregation

12pm-2pm-G/Heaven

3:00pm-Dinner Set up

4:00pm-Worship (SH)

5pm-6:30pm-Dinner

CONGREGATION MEETING

18

7-9:00pm-NA

FRUITS & VEGES

OF THE MONTH

Kiwi, Guava, Feijoa,,

Grapefruit, Tamarillo

19

7:30pm-9:00pm

Gates of Heaven

SPRING BEGINS 20

7:30am-Prayer Call

6:30pm-AA

7:00pm-

Chancel

8:00pm-

Praise

21

5:00pm-6:30pm-

Head Start

Parents Meeting

WORLD POETRY DAY

22

12:00pm-Knitting

4:30pm-8:30pm

Youth Ministry

7:30pm-9:00pm

Gates of Heaven

23

9:30am-Gathering

of the men

6:00pm-

"Spirit Talk"

7:00pm-Bridge

(at the Heaton's)

24

9:15am-Chancel

10:00am-Worship

11:30am-Coffee Hour

12:00pm-2:00pm

Gates of Heaven

4:00pm-Worship (SH)

25

7-9:00pm-NA

26

7:30pm-9:00pm

Gates of Heaven

27

7:30am-Prayer Call

1:00pm-Ladies

Bridge (at P Button's)

6:30pm-AA

7:00pm-Chancel

8:00pm-Praise

28

7:30pm-

"Thirsty"

Astrological Sign

Pisces (till 20th) &

Aries (21st →)

29

12:00pm-Knitting

4:30pm-8:30pm

Youth Ministry

7:30pm-Book Club

7:30pm-9:00pm

Gates of Heaven

30

10:00am-12:00pm

Grief Support

12:00pm-5:00pm

Private Party

NAT'L DOCTORS DAY

Church Office Hours

Tues—Fri, 9:30am—2:30pm

914-737-3322, 914-737-7822 (fax)

914-737-6549 (kitchen)

[email protected]

Pastor Stephany Graham Walker

Office Hours

Wed: 10AM—3PM, Thurs: 4—7PM

On Call

Friday and Saturday

Church Web site:

www.peekskillpresby.org

Find Us on Face Book:

Peekskill Presbyterian Church

705 South Street, Peekskill, NY

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to all

those who were born in the

Month of MARCH.

Lord's Attic Thrift Shop

Hours: 10 Am-3 PM

Wed, Thurs, & Sat.

THE MESSENGER - Peekskill Presbyterian Church 2019... · 2019. 3. 2. · The Messenger -March 2019...

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Transcript of THE MESSENGER - Peekskill Presbyterian Church 2019... · 2019. 3. 2. · The Messenger -March 2019...